Collapsible awning



Feb, 25, 1958 Y L. SOSOWER 2, 5

COLLAPSIBLE AWNING Filed Jan. 17, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

L 60 50 sow/5 United States PatentO COLLAPSIBLE AWNING Leon Sosower,Teaneck, N. 5.

Application January 17, 1956, Serial No. 559,661

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-62) This invention relates generally to screeningdevices, and has particular reference to a collapsible slatted screen inwhich a plurality of rectangular rigid slats are arranged with theirlong axes side by side in parallel relation.

A screen of the general type described is well adapted to serve as anawning, the slats lying substantially within a common oblique plane whenthe screen is extended, and being adjustable into zig-zag relation whenthe screen is collapsed. The collapsing or folding of the screen orawning is intended to be accomplished by a draw-cord, or possibly twosuch cords, secured at one end to the outermost slat and extendingrearwardly along a side edge of the awning.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a slatted screen ofthe character referred to in which the individual slats are constructedand hinged together in an improved manner, whereby substantial economiesin manufacture can be effected. More particularly, the improvedconstruction involves slats which are basically of uniform size andnature, and separate hinging elements of unusually simple andinexpensive character, the slats being interengageable in a relativelysimple fashion, and at low cost, by means of the hinging elements.

The advantages of the invention are attributable to an arrangement ofparts whereby the slats overlap one another in the extended relation,and in which each slat has its longitudinal margins rolled to definetubular bearings at its opposite ends, the hinging elements being U-shaped, each such element having its legs extending into a pair ofadjacent bearings. Of primary importance is the circumstance thatalternate slats are retained in nonrotative relation to the hingingelements with which they engage.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such otherobjects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, inthe manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slatted screen of the presentimproved kind, adapted for use as an awning, and shown in extendedcondition;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary face view of part of the extended screen shownin Figure 1, with parts broken away for the sake of compactness, andother parts broken away to reveal hidden structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the screen in partiallycollapsed condition;

Figure 4a is a similar view showing the slats fully collapsed;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the manner of hingedly connecting apair of adjacent slats; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper cornerof the awning shown in Figure l to illustrate the manner in which a pairof draw-cords may be associated with the device.

In the embodiment chosen for illustration, I have 2,824,607 PatentedFeb. 25, 1958 2 shown six rectangular slats 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15,these slats being made of metal or equivalent rigid ma terial. In theextended position of the screen, all of the slat edges that face in onedirection lie in overlapping relation to the adjacent slat edges thatface in the opposite direction. Thus, it will be observed that the loweredge or margin of each slat overlaps the upper edge of the adjacentslat. This is a desirable relationship of parts Where the screen is usedas an awning.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 5,

it will be observed that the lower margin of each slat is rolleddownward to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends. For example,the lower margin of the slat 11 is rolled as indicated at 16 to definetubular bearings 17.. Similarly, the lower margin of the slat 1 2 isrolled asindicated at 18 to provide tubular bearings 19 at its oppositeends. In'a similar fashion, each slat has its upper margin rolled upwardto define similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends. For example,referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the upper margin of theslat 12 is rolled upward to define bearings, one of which is shown at20. Similarly, upon referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that theupper margin of the slat 13 is rolled upward to define a pair of tubularbearings one of which is indicated at 21.

In Figure 5 I have indicated one of the improved U- shaped hingingelements. It has a pair of parallel legs 22 and a looped end 23. It iscomposed of a short length of metallic rod of substantially circularcross section, bent into the U-shape as shown.

In assembling the slats they are arranged in the overlapping relation,as dcscribed, and a U-shaped hinging element is inserted into each pairof adjacent bearings. In Figure 5, for example, the legs 22 are insertedinto the adjacent bearings 17 and 20, while the looped end 23 of thehinging element is left laterally projecting.

The functioning of the device in the contemplated manner is predicatedupon the employment of means for securing each U-shaped hinging elementin non-rotative engagement with one but not the other of the pair ofbearings into which its legs extend. In the case of the bearings shownin Figure 5. the leg 22 that enters the bearing 17 is rigidly securedwithin the latter, and for this purpose I preferably employ a securingmeans in the form of a pin or rivet 24 which extends transverselythrough the Wall of the bearing 17 and through the engaged leg 22. Uponreferring to the left of Figure 2 it will be observed that a similarsecuring pin 24 is associated with the bearing 17 at that side of thescreen device.

Each pair of securing pins (such as the pins 24) is preferably driveninto position with the hinging elementsarranged flatwise against theslat to which they are to be secured.

It will be observed that the hinge bearings both along the top and lowermargins of the adjacent slat 12 are left freely rotatable with respectto the corresponding legsof the U-shaped hinging elements. In fact, thepins 24 (and the other pins of the structure corresponding to them)constitute a means for securing only one set of alternate slats innon-rotative relation to the hinging elements with which they engage. Inthe illustrated embodiment, these alternate slats are designated 11, 13and 15. The hinging elements are thus left in free rotative relation tothe intermediate slats which are those designated 10, 12 and 14.

The device may be provided with one or more drawcords. I have shown twosuch cords in Figure 6. One is designated by the reference numeral 25,and after extending through a suitable grommet 27 in the top fixedbracket 28 of the awning it extends downwardly along the near side edgeof the awning as indicated in Fi ure 1.

It passes through alternate loops 23, more particularly, through theloops of the hinging elements between slats 11 and 12, and slats 13 and14. At its outermost end the draw-cord 25 is secured by a suitable knot29 to the laterally projecting pivot or hinge pin 30 carried along thelower margin or edge of the lowermost slat 15. A strut rod 31 is hingedto the building wall at 32 and also to the lower edge of the slat 15, inwell known fashion.

Where a second draw-cord is employed, as indicated at 26 in Figure 6, itmay extend transversely across to the remote side edge of the awning,thence downwardly in the same fashion as indicated in connection withthe cord 25. The direction of travel of the draw-cord 26 is indicated inFigure 4 by the dot-and-dash line to which the numeral 26 has beenapplied.

Where the screen is used as an awning, as shown in the drawings, arelease of the draw-cord or cords permits the weight of the slats topull them into the extended relationship shown in Figure 1, and when theawning is to be collapsed or folded a pull upon the draw-cord or cordswill initiate a zig-zag adjustment of the slats as indicated in Figure4, terminating in an arrangement of all the slats as shown in Figure 4ain substantially superposed relation closely adjacent to the upper endof the awning device.

If the screen is used for purposes other than an awning, the same modeof extension and collapse is employed, but it may not be possible torely upon gravity to adjust the parts into one or the other condition.In such case, manual adjustment, or the employment of appropriatedraw-cords, would be resorted to.

The primary advantage of the construction lies in its extreme simplicityand low cost. The slats are relatively simple fiat elements of sheetmaterial, the rolling of their longitudinal edges is a relatively simplemechanical operation, and the interengagement of the slats by means ofthe U-shaped hinging pins (of themselves inexpensive and extremelysimple in structural nature) can be accomplished expeditiously and atlow cost.

It will be understood that many of the details herein described andillustrated may obviously be altered by those skilled in the art withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible awning, a series of rectangular slats arranged sideby side with their long axes horizontal, said slats lying substantiallywithin a common oblique plane when the awning is extended and beingadjustable into zig-zag relation when the awning is collapsed, the loweredge of each slat overlapping the upper edge of the adjacent slat, eachslat having its lower margin rolled downward to define tubular bearingsat its opposite ends, each slat having its upper margin rolled upward todefine similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends, a plurality ofU-shaped hinging elements connecting the slats, each element having itslegs extending into a pair of adjacent bearings, and means for securingeach U-shaped hinging element in non-rotative engagement with one butnot the other of the pair of bearings into which its legs extend.

2. In a collapsible awning, the structure defined in claim 1, saidsecuring means being a pin extending transversely through one of theU-legs and through the wall of the hearing within which it lies.

3. In a collapsible awning, the structure defined in claim 1, the loopedends of said hinging elements projecting from said bearings, the awningbeing provided with at least one draw-cord secured at one end to theoutermost slat and extending upwardly along a side edge of the awningthrough certain of said looped ends.

4. In a collapsible slatted screen, a series of rectangular slatsarranged with their long axes side by side in parallel relation, saidslats lying substantially within a common plane when the screen isextended and being adjustable into zig-zag relation when the screen iscollapsed, all of the slat edges that face in one direction lying inoverlapping relation to the adjacent slat edges that face in theopposite direction, each of said overlapping edges being rolled towardthe underlying slat to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends,each of the underlying edges being rolled toward the overlying slat todefine similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends, a plurality ofU-shaped hinging elements connecting the slats, each element having itslegs extending into a pair of adjacent bearings, and means securingalternate slats in non-rotative relation to the hinging elements withwhich they engage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,567,239 Capell Dec. 29, 1925 2,057,350 Schuck Oct. 13, 1936 2,540,995Roeder Feb. 6, 1951

